Anybody here own land (property/lot)?

CoachCB · Aug 4, 2012

I just purchased 3 acres in Shenandoah County (VA). The front of the lot is very buildable (over an acre)...the back part of the lot slopes downward.

I'm going to clear it and put in a well and septic. My cousin is a builder in VA and is going to draw up plans for a small 2br cabin w/ a loft (about 700 sq ft total, including the loft).

I'm looking forward to this project. Should take a year or longer, as I hope to pay cash as I go....maybe take out a small home equity line on my house to finish it up quicker.

There's a small ski resort/"Four Season" resort near the property...it's about 110 miles from my house in Arlington. Lots of wineries nearby. About 35 miles to Harrisonburg, VA (home of James Madison Univ). About 10 miles to the WV border.

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nojuice9 · Aug 4, 2012

I've been thinking about doing it for some time. similiar to what you doing. I hope that you keep us posted on how this goes, would help moving forward. Oh, sounds like you have a decent spot too. I wish you the best with your project.

Albatross · Aug 4, 2012

700 sf will be really small. If the lot slopes, utilize it and put a basement on it.

CoachCB · Aug 4, 2012

Albatross said:
700 sf will be really small. If the lot slopes, utilize it and put a basement on it.

Tross, I agree it's small. But I want to keep the cost as low as possible. W/ the loft, it should be fine. It'll have a big front porch as well. I am going to see what the cost of a basement will be. My cousin has CAD and can draw up different plans. I do want it to be big enough to sell it to a family (for a vacation home). Lots of DC people have property out that way....and are too lazy to build their own. So if I can build it cheaply I can probably make a few bucks down the road.

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tatehill2000 · Aug 4, 2012

Im doing it now coach, and If I can give you any advice at all, MAKE SURE you watch and communicate CLEARLY with all of your subs, and use subs with dam good resumes, NEVER go for saving a buck, you will regret it FO SHO if you do,,
gl
tater

Enfuego · Aug 4, 2012

Coach, I have Angie's List and only choose the reputable contractors and have had great success and it's only $17 a year. If a dude has 60 great comments then you know he's a solid businessman.

CoachCB · Aug 4, 2012

tater, I hear you. My cousin is as reliable as you can get. He owns a building company in PA (Poconos area). He is building his retirement home down near Staunton, VA (about 40 miles from my lot) and is doing pay as he goes. He's building a nearly 3000sqft place. Obviously I want to save a few dollars...but I want it to be well built and I want to enjoy going out there and using it as well. So I won't skimp. My house right now in Arlington is nearly 70 years old...and there's some issues w/ it that I hate. I'm going to make sure this cabin is built w/ modern ammenities!

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CoachCB · Aug 4, 2012

Enfuego said:
Coach, I have Angie's List and only choose the reputable contractors and have had great success and it's only $17 a year. If a dude has 60 great comments then you know he's a solid businessman.

I'll tell you a funny story about Angies List.

One of my friends here in Arlington has a neighbor who is a complete douchebag. He started a roofing company...a painting company...a flooring company....and a window/door installation company. All have different/but similar names. He paid to go on Angie's List and had people (including my buddy) write up fake reference letters/comments. We had that bad storm blow through here about a month ago....he ended up getting 10 or so jobs for roofing damage. The guy is a complete douche!

I cannot remember the name of the company...but he used a name that is a very common Google search, like: Reliable Roofing, Affordable Windows & Doors or something (where somebody would type in "reliable roofing company in Arlington" and his company would pop up on the first page).

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Enfuego · Aug 4, 2012

CoachCB said:
I'll tell you a funny story about Angies List.

One of my friends here in Arlington has a neighbor who is a complete douchebag. He started a roofing company...a painting company...a flooring company....and a window/door installation company. All have different/but similar names. He paid to go on Angie's List and had people (including my buddy) write up fake reference letters/comments. We had that bad storm blow through here about a month ago....he ended up getting 10 or so jobs for roofing damage. The guy is a complete douche!

I cannot remember the name of the company...but he used a name that is a very common Google search, like: Reliable Roofing, Affordable Windows & Doors or something (where somebody would type in "reliable roofing company in Arlington" and his company would pop up on the first page).

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If you're a company, you can't pay to be on Angie's List.

CoachCB · Aug 4, 2012

Enfuego said:
If you're a company, you can't pay to be on Angie's List.

Well, I saw the ad. He may have gotten someone else to put him on there....because he's on there. I think they have a subscription/premium service that a company can pay for. Not sure, just relaying what my buddy told me and I actually saw it on A's List.

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Enfuego · Aug 4, 2012

CoachCB said:
Well, I saw the ad. He may have gotten someone else to put him on there....because he's on there. I think they have a subscription/premium service that a company can pay for. Not sure, just relaying what my buddy told me and I actually saw it on A's List.

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Who knows? I look at the companies that have as many comments as possible, have a legitimate website and references.

CoachCB · Aug 4, 2012

Well, he does have a great website....and several "fake" references.

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tatehill2000 · Aug 4, 2012

CoachCB said:
Well, he does have a great website....and several "fake" references.

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ugh,,, thats too bad,, but I guess there are scammers everywhere,,
tater

Defying · Aug 5, 2012

Good Luck Coach... I'm very familar with the area youre talking about.... in fact, I rent houses for "mini" vacations a couple times a year... so not only do i know the area, I am also a potential client....

Here's my take... space is the number one thing I look for... The more beds the better.. I want to all be comfortable. Giving the area, your dollar should stretch a little further. Its very low cost of living in this part of the state (minus charlottesville)...

Plus isnt Massanutten(sp) high end? I haven't personally been there yet.. but if they are going to want to spend on that money there, does that conflict with the kind of people staying in a cabin? no answer, just a question

How many cabins are you planning on building? There is a ton of factors that make my opinion much less informed than yours but just to give you some perspective as alocal that would rents houses , thought it oculd be helpful...

I would want to build bigger... maybe take the least desirable part of the land, build your 700 sq ft cabin... make some money, and then build bigger... until you use your best spot for the biggest house you can affrod....

Also, a pool table, even a ping pong table goes a long way for entertainment... since its mostly used for sking its obviously seasonal rental.. keep that in mind.. maybe a nice size firepit, cost you next to nothing, could be a bonus in the winter for those people renting...

im less impressed my "modern" when going on a vacation, and more concerned with having enough space to enjoy myself, afterall thats what seperates a house from a hotel....

CoachCB · Aug 5, 2012

Defying, I understand it's a bit small....but I'm not really building it as a rental property. I'm building it for my personal use....and will likely rent it occasionally. I want to pay cash as I go...so going bigger means more money. The largest I'd go is around 1000sqft....including the loft.

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Defying · Aug 5, 2012

gotcha, thought it was more about generating income.. awesome youre able to do that... im sure it will be a nice esacpe for you and your family...

loomis41973 · Aug 5, 2012

I have many homes and properties in the US and abroad. IS there a question here?

CoachCB · Aug 5, 2012

loomis41973 said:
I have many homes and properties in the US and abroad. IS there a question here?

Sure. I'd like to hear about buying land/property and building on it. Good, bad experiences, etc....

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CoachCB · Aug 5, 2012

Defying said:
gotcha, thought it was more about generating income.. awesome youre able to do that... im sure it will be a nice esacpe for you and your family...

If I could get a few hundred dollars/month, that would pay most of the bills...especially if I'm mortgage free. Property taxes would probably be less than $600/yr, plus electric & cable/satellite tv (gotta be able to watch sports!)... So if I could rent it out one week per month (on avg), I'd be in good shape....

But, for the most part it would just be a small place to escape the city....as I grow older.

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groundhog11 · Aug 5, 2012

sounds like it would rent its self during ski season...

Anybody here own land (property/lot)?

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